The chemical ingredients of the water are either elastic or solid. Of the former, the principal is sulphu vetted hvch'ogen gas ; and in these spriligs it is not found in the state, in which it exists in the sulphureous waters of Great Britain, whose tempei'atu: c is low ; but is very highly saturated with sulphur, which, as we have already mentioned, is deposited when the vapour has risen to the top of the cistern, and experienced a diminution of its heat. \V lien a portion of the water has been evaporalc•cl to dryness, the whole of the sulphur disappears, for uo traces of it can he disc.otcred in the residuum. Besides the sulphuretted hydrogen gas, the water likewise contains a small quantity of carbonic acid in the elastic state'. The solid ingredients of these waters are carbonate of soda, nturiate of soda, and car bonate of lime ; and, from the analysis of Bergman, we reckon, that they are present in nearly the following proportions :—A wine pint (English weight and ncea mire,) contains Of carbonate of lime, 4 i grains Of niuriate of soda, 5 do. Of carbonate oh' soda, 12 do.
The proportion of the gaseous ingredients has not been ascertained with sufficient accuracy.
from this analysis, we may expiaiu the phenomena. which take place when the water is subjected to the common reagents. A piece of lead, suspended in the vapour is blackened in a few• days, and corroded through out, from the union of the compound gas with the metal. Solutions et lead, or silver, added to the water.
when hot and fresh, produce a blackish precipitate from the same cause, though the effect may depend likewise on the presence of the autiriate and the Light tempera ture ; as the precipitate is white, if the solutions be added to the water when it is cold. Syrup of violets is changed to a green, owing to the action of the gas, which, it is atfirmecl, gives rise to this change ; (.\Iur ray's ('he'mistry, vol. ii. p. 443.) or the alterations of the colour may be produced by the alkaline carbonate. The same change takes place when the carbonate of lime has been precipitated by cooling.
The water is used internally as a gentle stimulant and corroboraut, and also as a diuretic. It is found to be serviceable in morbid affections of the chvlopoetic viscera ; and it is highly useful in disorders of the kid neys and bladder. It is likewise employed externally in case's of paralysis, gout, and rheumatism. Sec Bergman's I'hasicul anti! Chemical h's.saus, vol. i. p. 285. Blondel. Deecei/. Therm. -1/vi.c•rraacn.c. Lucas on .linrro! ii mtrrs. S..ttdct's on .'Mineral 1T"atei's. Ash's EuJieri ntt'nts and Observations on the film ral it at,-rs of Spa and .li.r-la-C'1ra/i lie. Dr Rutty's Methodical Syn„Jtsis of -Mineral if tiros, p. 625. 4to. (l:)